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COMMENT
Was the film effective in rendering the atmosphere of the Renaissance? What is missing? What is the film's most valuable contribution to your understanding of the Renaissance?
REPLY to an insightful and original comment.
I believe the film captures some essence of the Renaissance. Throughout the film the commitment people had to their arts was experienced with sincerity. Michelangelo was an obvious reflection of passion felt through art. Michelangelo constantly battled with the Pope about his art work, first refusing to paint the ceilings in the Sistine Chapel because he wanted to complete his work of sculpting for the Pope's tomb. He became so committed and desperate with the ceiling commission that throughout the film he challenges and battles the Pope and his clergymen who doubt and disrupt his creative process. The passion and dedication Michelangelo feels towards artwork becomes very apparent. Even minor characters like Raphael, who secretly began painting in Michelangelo's style in hopes of finishing the Sistine Chapel instead of Michelangelo, delivers an essence of the love of the art. The passion and urge to create the best and most meaningful works of art radiates through the characters and I believe that is exactly what the Renaissance was about. The most valuable contribution of the film was exploring the love of the arts and the extreme measures people would go to in order to achieve the perfect form of art whether it be a painting, sculpture, or some other form of work.
ReplyDeleteCrystal,
DeleteI do agree the extreme love of the arts was portrayed in the film. Even that Michelangelo was suffering from "one of his working fevers" shows his obsession was not limited to painting the Sistine Chapel, but he suffered for many other of his projects. Looking at some of the famous works portrayed in the introductory part of the film, its easy to see the magnificence that resulted from his mania.
One of the important aspect for the world’s cultural heritage is the painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a creation for which Michelangelo spent five years. This is the hardest work for the entire creative period of the artist. In the period of Renaissance, the ceiling painting had a decorative nature, limited to a simple theme. Therefore, the work of Michelangelo was the most real exception to the rules, a departure from the aesthetic norms of the era. In a huge ceiling fresco, the author recreated the biblical legend, the ensemble includes more than three hundred figures. The main theme of the ceiling is the doctrine of the need for mankind's salvation, offered by God through Jesus. The most valuable contribution to my understanding of the Renaissance was the talent and love of Michelangelo to his work. All his greatness was expressed in diligent work, attentiveness to detail and love of his work. He became personification of the art of the XVI century.
ReplyDeleteHi Kristina, you just answered one of the questions I asked in the homework. Its crazy how long it takes to paint the ceiling but again only one guys is painting it. I am not an artistic person so to me those painting are above everything. Today I went to visit one of the cathedrals in Sicily, it's beautiful! The art, the amount of details is indescribable.
DeleteYou are in Italy right now?!?!
Deleteyes! I am currently in Sicily.
DeleteItalians has been known for many years for their paintings and sculpturing. Although the film focused mainly on art and war but they did show how's life in that age. Whenever I hear the word Renaissance I think about the knights fighting on their horse. I love the painting of the church and the making of some famous sculptures we always see in the textbooks. It is amazing that those sculptures used to be just a rock. It surprised me that a town or city would be run by a Pope like a king. He would go to war for the people.
ReplyDeleteHi Peiling, I was also surprised by the fact that the Pope ran the Papal States as its monarch. I never imagined the Pope is that light. Its very political and conflicts with Christian values.
DeleteIt's interesting that you imagine(d) fighting knights as representing the Renaissance. I had always thought the exact opposite- that is was all art, and basket-weaving and hippie stuff. I know it sounds cliche, but my point is that violence never entered my mind before in terms of the Renaissance.
DeleteI don't believe the atmosphere of the Renaissance was accurately portrayed in the movie. Understandably, the movie concentrated on the contribution of the arts and the slight reforms of the Church's views. The Pope shows tolerance of nudes being used on the ceiling and defends Michelangelo's use of them when openly criticized by a Cardinal . Also, the Pope was shown as more tolerant of those who called him names like Michelangelo did when he called the Pope "the Medusa". A more accurate look at the Renaissance would have also included contributions of exploration, sciences, education, literature, and mathematics.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that a better look at the Renaissance would include things like mathematics, sciences, and exploration. But I do believe it gives an accurate depiction of the art aspect of the Renaissance and since the film is about Michelangelo, those other topics understandable can't all be covered as well.
DeleteYes, the film was effective in rendering the Renaissance. I believe the art created by Michaelangelo was the most valuable contribution for me understanding the Renaissance. Michaelangelo was known for his known for his sculptures and other forms of art and he accomplished so much at a very young age. It was really interesting watching the movie. I learned things I was never aware of. For instance, I heard of Michaelangelo but I never knew how much he accomplished at such a young age. It was nice to somewhay follow his story although I know some scenes were added/adjusted for the purpose of the film. Michaelangelo’s art work, especially the Sistine chapel helped my understanding of the Renaissance. Michaelangelo did not consider himself a painter, although he was good at it. With his amazing skills and knowledge he is was able to create an amazing piece of art. Art, in all forms, has been and always will be a pillar of civilization.
ReplyDeleteThe film was very effective toward the renaissance. To understand the renaissance you had to understand the type of artist Michael- Angelo truly is. Even though he was passionate about sculpting he was able to find such a stronger passion for painting in transforming beautiful artwork. It was very interesting to learn things about what was going on through the history of Michaelangelo, it went more in depth with the facts rather than when you sit in a classroom and learn about the artist. It makes it known that the artist considered himself more a sculptor than he did a painter when he created such master pieces. His artwork expressed such a message during those times that it was a piece of history to be taught for generations on end.
ReplyDeleteHi Bruna,
DeleteI also wrote that the film was very effective toward the Renaissance. It is very interesting that you mentioned the type of artist Michelangelo was. Like yourself, it also fascinated me that event though Michelangelo did not consider himself a painter but a sculpture that he was able to create such a masterpiece.
The film was effective in rendering the atmosphere of the Renaissance because it depicts the rebuilding of a better and more harmonious society from the perspective of art. As discussed in the video, From the Ancient World to the Renaissance, the art became better in the rebirth, they learned to shade, and depth and the illusion of distance (perception). The look of churches evolved from Gothic or Medieval to more beautiful, colorful and warm.
ReplyDeleteWhat was missing from the film in regard to rendering the atmosphere of the renaissance is how the Christian religion had evolved. In the medieval period, religion was highly regarded as it was the basis for decisions that were made concerning daily life.
The most valuable contribution to my understanding of the Renaissance is the Holy War or the War of the League of Cambrai because it demonstrates once again how the Romans fought to protect their community and the life they had rebuilt after the fall of the empire. As a reminder, the medieval time began with the fall of the Roman Empire in 476, and it is said to have been caused by the Barbarian attacks on Rome that stemmed from mass migration. Therefore, as the state of the Romans were being rebuilt the Lombard king of Italy and the Pope wanted to remain independent from the authority of the emperor. Many Italians regarded the emperor as a Germanic barbarian.
Though it came across as the Renaissance through the lens of 1960’s Hollywood, the film did a good job in capturing the awe inspiring quality of the work Michelangelo made. The war scenes seemed so mundane and matter of fact, demonstrating the cut throat business mentality possessed by Popes during the period.
ReplyDeleteThe Pope as a political figure and leader of war juxtaposed the presentation of the Artist and their divine inspiration. Having studied some art history of this period, I felt connected to portrayal of the work with fresco, Raphael’s rendering of “The School of Athens,” and Michelangelo’s work with carving stone.
Personally, I feel this film is not really that effective in rendering the atmosphere of the Renaissance. It is more like the beginning period that there is still someone believe in God and authority. It is evidenced when someone in the church says that it’s a shame that Michelangelo paint naked bodies on the ceiling. I think the missing part is the emphasis of humanity. Renaissance is more about humanism. Individuals start awaring their power as human beings and challenging the authority.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting view. Definitely, authority and religious values play important role in the film. I think the film show the transition to the Renaissance era. At the end of the film, when the ceiling is finally finished, I think that is a "sign" of Renaissance values to win over.
DeleteI believe, that the film was a good representation of Renaissance and its values. I think, that Michelangelo is portrayed as a passionate artists, who wanted to be a sculptor his entire life, but has to devote himself to something bigger then himself. The film translates admiration of art and seeking perfection in everything . I though, those values resonate with Renaissance very well.
ReplyDeleteI agree as the film depicted Michael Angelo as an important status symbol, one who commanded respect even from the pope.
DeleteThe film presented the atmosphere of the Renaissance well and showed the passion for art that was present during the era. Firstly, it showed the pedestal Michelangelo himself was placed for his mastery in the art of sculpting and painting. He got in many fights with the Pope but was never punished fully which showed his status as an artist. The last scene of the film contributed to my understanding of the Rennaisance because it shows all the Romans looking up at the ceiling in awe at what Michelangelo had created.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that the Renaissance feeling was there because of the appreciation of the arts. In school I was thought that during the Renaissance, some of the most important pieces of art were created and the film depicted a sense of importance in not only the art itself, but who made it. Even during war the film showed that the king showed high attention to the art being created, giving it a sense of relevancy. And even though Michael Angelo kept getting himself into trouble, the Pope always showed sympathy towards him because of his artist status.
ReplyDeleteI'm not expert when it comes to the Renaissance but I think the movie wasn't exactly doing its job representing the Renaissance. Too many things were unfolding as the movie happened and it felt like those other events were a distraction. I expected to learn more about the art and some of its history but not some ongoing fight between two men. However, the movie showed me to truly appreciate the amount of care, love, and dedication that goes into art. This was one of the most important aspects that the movie help me understand about the Renaissance.
ReplyDeleteI believed the film represented a glorious moment during the Renaissance. The idea of humanism portrayed in Michelangelo’s character. He is an artist (who have his own ideas, disagreement, and decisions when they received a project) and not a craftsman (who are paid to follow instructions and ideas in completing a project). Furthermore, Julian supports Michelangelo with all-cause which illustrated their passion towards art and admiration towards religion.
ReplyDelete